Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday:
Lihue, Kauai – 79
Honolulu airport, Oahu – 81
Kaneohe, Oahu – 76
Molokai airport – 78
Kahului airport, Maui – 80
Kona airport – 82
Hilo airport, Hawaii – 79
Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops…as of 5pm Sunday evening:
Barking Sands, Kauai – 81F
Kaneohe, Oahu – 74
Haleakala Crater – missing (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 30 (over 13,500 feet on the Big Island)
Precipitation Totals – The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals Sunday evening:
1.22 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.30 Punaluu Stream, Oahu
0.03 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
2.67 Puu Kukui, Maui
3.29 Mountain View, Big Island
Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a large 1026 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of Hawaii. Our trade winds will be active through Tuesday.
Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here's a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.
Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live web cam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two web cams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.
Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific – Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season ended November 30th here in the central Pacific…and begins again June 1st.
Aloha Paragraphs
Trade winds, becoming slightly lighter,
high cirrus clouds…localized showers
The trade winds will remain breezy through the end of the new work week, then turning lighter from the southeast ahead of a cold front…volcanic haze arriving next weekend. According to this weather map, we find a 1026 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands Sunday night. We still have our small craft wind advisory flags up, although they are been scaled back to only those windiest areas around Maui County and the Big Island. These trades will carry showers our way at times…with drier weather forecast from Tuesday onwards.
Trade winds will remain active…the following numbers represent the strongest gusts, along with directions Sunday evening:
25 mph Port Allen, Kauai – ENE
20 Kahuku, Oahu – ENE
20 Molokai – NE
29 Kahoolawe
27 Kapalua, Maui – ENE
07 Lanai Airport – ENE
29 South Point, Big Island – NE
We can use the following links to see what’s going on in our area of the north central Pacific Ocean Sunday afternoon. This large University of Washington satellite image shows thick high cirrus clouds arriving over the state from the west. It appears that there are some heavy showers to the southwest as well…associated with an upper level trough of low pressure. Looking at this NOAA satellite picture we see those high clouds arranged over the state…especially from Oahu down through the Big Island. We can use this looping satellite image to see those clouds coming our way to the west, which are essentially hiding the lower level clouds for the most part. Checking out this looping radar image shows showers generally falling over the ocean, with some heavier showers occurring to the south of Kauai, and along the Kona slopes of the Big Island.
This past Thursday evening after work I went to see a new film in Kahului, Maui. There were several films that looked good to me, although I ended up seeing The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe…among others. The synopsis: Mickey Haller is a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln sedan. Haller has spent most of his career defending garden-variety criminals, until he lands the case of his career: defending Louis Roulet, a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and attempted murder. But the seemingly straightforward case suddenly develops into a deadly game of survival. I'd seen the trailer for this film a couple of times, and it appealed to me right away. The critics are giving this film a B grade, while the viewers have given it an A-. As is often the case, I ended up liking this film very much, and as far as a grade goes, I'd give it an A- without any hesitation. I liked the actors, the acting, and the subject matter. It had all the things that I typically like in a film, including action, suspense, a good story, and the bottom line…it was very entertaining! Here's a trailer for this two hour hour film, which is being called a thriller.
Friday evening I went down to Kahului for dinner, before seeing another film. I ran into an old friend while picking up two slices of pizza and a salad. We ended up sitting together, and then went to the film together too. This film was called Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish, and Anna Friel…among others. This film was about an ordinary guy whose life transforms when he takes an experimental brain-altering "smart drug." Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, like I did the previous night. The critics are giving a B grade, with the viewers are giving a B+ rating. I'm going to up that a little, and give an A- grade, barely short of a solid A. I took me away from the first moment, carrying me through without missing a beat, with the film having an excellent ending ta boot. It was a great film, with twists and turns that were impressive. My friend and I ended up seeing several other old friends after the film, and we all concurred that we had liked it. It was one of the best films that I have seen lately…very edgy! Here's the trailer, in case you want a sneak peek.
~~~ It's late Sunday afternoon here in Kula, Maui, with an air temperature of 68F degrees at 415pm. Skies are partly to mostly cloudy, much of which consists of the rather thick cirrus clouds. There are some lower level clouds around too, although we haven't had any showers around…in contrast to Saturday afternoon into the evening. The atmosphere remains somewhat unstable however, so there could still be some showers around through Monday. The models are showing generally drier air moving in by Tuesday, which will stick around for several days. The latest computer models are showing a springtime cold front approaching the state next weekend. This will turn our trade winds softer, and veer them around to the southeast. As we know, southeast breezes often bring volcanic haze to the islands. The cold front itself might bring some showers to the state early next week, we have plenty of time to monitor this prospect. It's a gentle Sunday here in the islands, and besides the rather cloudy skies, and the resultant muted sunshine, it has been a nice day. I'll be back with your next new weather narrative from paradise early Monday morning. I hope you have a great Sunday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.
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